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scrape Definition

scrape (skrāp)

transitive verb scraped, scrap·ing

  1. to rub over the surface of with something rough or sharp
  2. to make smooth or clean by rubbing with a tool or abrasive
  3. to remove by rubbing with something sharp or rough: with off, out, etc.
  4. to scratch or abrade by a rough, rubbing contact to fall and scrape one's knee
  5. to rub with a harsh, grating sound chalk scraping a blackboard
  6. to dig, esp. with the hands and nails
  7. to collect or gather slowly and with difficulty to scrape together some money

Etymology: ME scrapen < ON skrapa, akin to Du schrapen, OE screpan, to scratch < IE base *(s)ker-, to cut > scurf, sharp

intransitive verb

  1. to scrape something so as to remove dirt, etc.
  2. to rub against something harshly; grate
  3. to give out a harsh, grating noise
  4. to collect or gather goods or money slowly and with difficulty
  5. to manage to get by; survive: with through, along, by
  6. to draw the foot back along the ground in bowing

noun

  1. the act of scraping
  2. a scraped place; abrasion or scratch
  3. the noise of scraping; harsh, grating sound
  4. a disagreeable or embarrassing situation; predicament, esp. when caused by one's own conduct
  5. a fight or conflict

scrape Related Forms

scraper noun

scrape Synonyms

scrape

v.

scrape Usage Examples

Object

  • barrel: Posted by: pete Here are some handy tips to stop you before you have to start scraping the barrel!
  • acquaintance: That girl would scrape acquaintance with anybody; she had no reserve, none of the enamel of the lady.
  • living: The vast majority spend every waking hour trying to scrape a living, just to survive.
  • mud: They would scrape the mud from the body revealing what was left of its skin.
  • bottom: You can tell we're scraping the bottom of the barrel for things to look for.
  • ice: In our old place I used to be scraping ice off the windows.

Adjective modifier

  • shallow: During the breeding season, a male will make several shallow nest scrapes in a well guarded territory.
  • minor: Outside, the bag is in good condition, but does have some minor surface scrapes from natural wear and tear.

Adjective complement

clean: Low on the mountain the quartzites are scraped clean.

Modifying Another Word

  • barely: Bad luck to the Raveonettes ' Ode to la, which barely scrapes the 500 sales to land in the top 75.
  • gently: I also VERY gently scraped the " feet " of the 555.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • through: I hope we scrape through into the World Cup next weekend, through individual brilliance.
  • off: All the dirt is scraped off with the sticky oil.
  • along: We would engage ' bottom gear ' and slither down on our bottoms, backpacks scraping along behind.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • off: The arsenic could then be scraped off the walls, not a healthy job.
  • away: Using a metal spoon, scrape away the crumbs to leave a smooth surface.

Particle object:

seed: Carefully scrape out the tiny black seeds with the tip of a sharp knife.

Noun used with modifier

  • wader: Current projects/significant management activities: The Trust will be creating new wader scrapes and installing a series of dams this autumn.
  • exhaust: LOL Posted on 06.09.06 at 10:17 H.A. ( Fat girls make my exhausts scrape!
  • skin: Fish examination A skin scrape of two fish showed very high levels of white spot; indeed the slide was alive with them.

Browse dictionary entries near scrape

  1. scrapbook
  2. scrap iron
  3. scrap
  4. Scranton
  5. scrannel
  6. scramjet
  7. scramble
  8. scram
  9. scraggy
  10. scraggly
  1. scraper
  2. scrapheap
  3. scrapie
  4. scraping
  5. scrapper
  6. scrapple
  7. scrappy
  8. scratch
  9. scratch line
  10. scratch sheet